Cover for rolled paper

ABSTRACT

A cover for paper delivered in rolled form has a cylindrical main body section with a longitudinally extending slot, a closed end and an openable opposite end. A suspension rod extends internally through the main body to hold a roll of paper. A stiffening strut provides support for the main body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a cover for containing a roll of paper towels, bathroom tissue and the like, and more particularly to such a cover especially suited for outdoor use.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are several types of rolled paper products on the market today, including paper towels, bathroom tissue and the like. Such rolled paper products are obviously very useful and as a result are used ubiquitously at home, at work and in innumerable other situations, including outdoor events such as picnics, camping and car camping, and boating. The term “paper towel” as used herein will be understood to refer to any of the types of rolled paper products.

[0003] Because they are especially convenient—portable, readily available and disposable—rolled paper goods are in frequent demand for outdoor events. However, when used outdoors the towels are subject to the hazards of the weather; rain can quickly destroy an entire roll of paper towels, and a sudden gust of wind can cause a roll to unroll and end up dirty on the ground.

[0004] While paper towels can be stored in plastic containers, when they are stored in such a container the towels are not conveniently available for quick use. Moreover, there are no secure and convenient ways of keeping paper towels in a car, truck or boat. There is a need therefore for a cover for paper towels that does not detract from the very reasons why paper towels are so popular.

[0005] The paper towel cover of the present invention is particularly suited to outdoor use but may be used indoors just as well. The cover provides a flexible, waterproof and wipeable cover for a roll of paper towels, and includes a slot through which towels may be dispensed. The cover is manufactured from a durable, weatherproof fabric formed into a cylinder with a rod suspended within the cylinder to hold a roll of towels. One end of the cylindrical cover is closed and the opposite end has a pursed drawstring opening with a cord and cord lock to permit the end to be opened to allow rolls of towels to be interchanged and closed to keep out the elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will be more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention, showing the openable end of the paper towel cover, and showing the cover suspended from a stationary object.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a left side perspective view of the paper towel cover shown in FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a right side perspective view of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention with portions of the cover cut away to reveal the internal components of the device.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a left side perspective view of the invention showing a top portion cut away to reveal a stabilizing member.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the paper towel cover with the openable end in the open position, and illustrating in phantom lines various components of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] A preferred embodiment of a cover 10 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. As noted above, the cover 10 is designed to be used with any of the rolled paper products that are available, including for example paper towels and toilet tissue. While the invention is illustrated and described with respect to its use as a cover for a roll of paper towels, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such use. Moreover, although paper towel cover 10 is particularly well suited for outdoor use, it may just as well be used in any other location.

[0013] Cover 10 is defined by a cylindrical main body section 12, an openable end 14 and a closed end 16. The cover is preferably made of a durable, weather and water resistant fabric such as nylon, although many different fabrics, plastics and the like may be used. The main body section 12 is formed into tube having an internal diameter sized to readily accept a standard roll of paper towels. Both closed end 16 and openable end 14 are preferably formed of the same fabric used to make the main body section, and are attached to the main body section with a sewn seam. As shown in FIG. 2, closed end 16 may include an optional utility pouch 18, which may be a mesh fabric as shown.

[0014] Openable end 14 is made openable and closeable with a draw cord 20 that extends through a casing 22 sewn around the perimeter of the fabric 23 that defines the openable end. As best shown in FIG. 5, the opposite ends of draw cord 20 extend through a cord lock 24. The openable end 14 may be closed by pulling the draw cord 20 in a purse-like manner and securing the closure with the cord lock 24. The openable end is opened in the opposite manner.

[0015] An internal stiffening strut 26 extends along the length of main body section 12 and is contained in a pouch 28 (FIG. 4) sewn into the main body section and provides stiffening support for the main body section. The opposite ends of the strut 26 terminate near the ends of the main body section. A pair of hooks, 30, 32 are connected to the main body section near the opposite ends of the strut 26, for example with a length of webbing 34. Hooks 30 and 32 are optional and allow the cover 10 to be connected to any convenient external structure 39 such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A carrying handle 36, preferably made of fabric, has its opposite ends attached to main body section 12.

[0016] Main body section 12 includes a longitudinally extending slot 38 that defines an opening through which paper towels may be dispensed. Specifically, and as best shown in FIG. 5, slot 38 is defined between an overlapping flap 40 and an underlapping flap 42 that define the slot 38 therebetween.

[0017] A paper towel support rod 44 is provided in the interior of main body section 12 to support a roll of paper towels 46, shown with phantom lines in FIG. 5. The support rod 44 may be suspended with a section of draw cord 48 that has a first end attached in the interior of the main body section near closed end 16 at or near strut 26. Support rod 44 is preferably a rigid or semi-rigid tubular member such as plastic pipe, and cord 48 extends through the interior of rod 44 with the second end of the cord having a hook 50 attached thereto. A loop 52 is attached to the interior of the main body section near the end of strut 26 that is adjacent the openable end 14 (FIGS. 3 and 5). Hook 50 attaches to loop 52 to provide a suspension support for rod 44, and thus the roll of paper towels 46 suspended on the rod. The end of rod 44 may be attached to the closed end 16 in any appropriate manner as opposed to being suspended with draw cord 48.

[0018] Rod 44 is preferably suspended in the interior of main body section 12 in a position such that it is coaxial with the longitudinal axis through the main body section. The position of hook 50 on cord 48 is adjustable so that the position of rod 44 relative to the axial center of the main body section is adjustable. Thus, by increasing the length of cord 48 (i.e., by locating hook 50 at a position on cord 48 that is a greater distance along the cord from the first end), the position at which rod 44 is suspended in the main body section is adjustable. This adjustment may be used to position a roll of paper towels within the main body section so that the outside diameter of the roll has clearance on all sides, and so that the roll does not bind on the walls of the main body section as the roll rotates on rod 44. In most cases the position of rod 44 will be nearly coaxial with the longitudinal axis through the main body section.

[0019] To use the paper towel cover 10, the openable end 14 is opened by loosening draw cord 20 as described above. Hook 50 is detached from loop 52 and a roll of paper towels 46 is inserted onto rod 44 such that the rod extends through the tube in the center of the roll of paper towels, and the roll of towels is thus inserted into the interior of the cylindrical main body section 12. With the roll of towels completely inserted over rod 44, the position of hook 50 is adjusted on cord 48 so that the roll of towels is suspended in the desired position, and hook 50 is reattached to loop 52, thereby suspending the roll of towels in the cover 10. The interior diameter of the main body section is sized to be larger than the exterior diameter of a standard roll of paper towels. The free end 54 of the roll of towels is then extended through slot 38, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and openable end 14 is closed by pulling on draw cord 20 and securing cord lock 24.

[0020] Paper towels may be dispensed through slot 38 by pulling on the free end 54. Strut 26 stiffens the main body member 12 so that the roll of paper towels does not bind as the towels are dispensed through slot 38. As the free end 54 is pulled away from the main body section, the roll of towels rotates on rod 44. By providing longitudinal stiffening support for main body section 12, strut 26 further allows the paper towel cover 10, filled with a roll of paper towels, to be carried from location to location. Because the roll of towels is suspended on rod 44, the towels are easily dispensed through the slot 38.

[0021] The free end 54 of the rolls of towels may be stowed internally by pushing the free end back through slot 38, for instance when it is raining or when towels are otherwise not needed. The overlapping flap 40 prevents water, dirt and other contaminants from easily entering the interior of the main body section and the towels are thus kept clean. The free end 54 is easily accessed through the slot to begin dispensing towels when they are needed.

[0022] While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A cover for a roll of paper, comprising: a cylindrical main body section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein; a longitudinally extending stiffening strut attached to the main body section; a rod extending through the cylindrical main body section.
 2. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the rod is suspended within the cylindrical main body section and is substantially coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis through the main body section.
 3. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical main body section further comprises one closed end and an opposite end that is selectively openable and closable.
 4. The cover according to claim 3 wherein the longitudinally extending slot in the cylindrical main body section further comprises an overlapping flap and an underlapping flap.
 5. The cover according to claim 4 wherein the rod comprises a cylindrical member having opposite ends, and wherein the rod is suspended within the cylindrical main body section by a length of cord that extends through the rod.
 6. The cover according to claim 5 wherein the position of the rod relative to the longitudinal axis of the main body section is adjustable.
 7. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical main body section comprises a water resistant fabric.
 8. A cover for holding a roll of paper, comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body section having a closed end and an openable end, a longitudinally extending slot in the main body section and a longitudinally extending support strut; a rod extending through the interior of the main body section and having a first end connected to the main body section adjacent the closed end and a second end selectively connectable to the main body section adjacent the openable end such that the rod is suspended in the cylindrical main body section when the second end of the rod is connected to the main body section.
 9. The cover according to claim 8 wherein the rod is suspended within the main body section substantially coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis through the main body section.
 10. The cover according to claim 8 wherein the slot in the main body section is defined by an overlapping flap and an underlapping flap.
 11. The cover according to claim 10 wherein the rod is hollow and is suspended in the main body section by a cord extending through the hollow rod, wherein the cord has a first end attached to the main body section and a second end extending out of the rod and a hook on the cord adjacent the second end.
 12. The cover according to claim 11 wherein the position of the hook on the cord is adjustable.
 13. A paper roll cover, comprising: a cylindrical main body having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein and at least one openable end; stiffening means attached to the main body for longitudinally supporting the main body section; suspension means in the main body for holding a roll of paper towels in the main body in an operative position such that paper towels from the roll of towels may be dispensed through the slot.
 14. The paper roll cover according to claim 13 wherein the stiffening means further comprises a longitudinal member supported in a pouch on the main body.
 15. The paper roll cover according to claim 13 wherein the suspension means further comprises a rod suspended in the main body and coaxial with a longitudinal axis through the main body.
 16. The paper roll cover according to claim 14 wherein the rod has opposite ends, one end of the rod is fixedly suspended from the main body and the opposite end of the rod is selectively attachable to the main body section.
 17. The paper roll cover according to claim 13 wherein one end of the main body is closed and the opposite end is selectively openable.
 18. The paper roll cover according to claim 13 wherein the slot is further defined between an overlapping flap and an underlapping flap.
 19. The paper roll cover according to claim 13 wherein the main body is fabricated from a water resistant fabric. 